Guide to Handling Tree Branch Punctures on Roofs
A broken tree branch during a major storm can puncture your roof. You must both minimize immediate leaks as well as make plans for a complete repair in the future.
Leak Mitigation
The first concern when a broken tree branch punctures your roof is dealing with the initial leak. During the storm, it won't be safe to go up on the roof, so any leak mitigation steps must take place from the safety inside the house.
If possible and safe, you can enter the attic and place buckets or other collection vessels beneath the punctures so that water doesn't leak through the attic and cause damages to the rooms below. If it isn't possible to enter the attic, then the water may leak into the house below. Drilling a hole into the drywall to route the water into a placed bucket can localize the damage to one area and help to prevent it from spreading to a larger area.
Temporary Steps
Once the storm passes you can take further steps to mitigate damage until a permanent repair can be made. The first step is removing the branch that has punctured the ceiling. Doing so will of course open up the roof further, which means future rainstorms can lead to greater water damage.
Once the tree branch is removed, proper tarping is the key to mitigating short-term damage. To prevent water from flowing under the tarp, secure it in place by creating a temporary frame around the puncture with wooden boards. Place the tarp tautly over the puncture hole, then secure the board over the top of the tarps edges. fold the tarp back over the board frame and attach a second board on top, sandwiching the edges of the tarp, to ensure it remains taut and doesn't flap in the wind. A flapping tarp will quickly tear free in future storms.
Repair Options
Repair methods will depend greatly on the severity of the puncture. A minor puncture can sometimes be patched, especially if it doesn't damage the main decking plywood that makes up the initial layer of the roof. Your roofer will simply remove the damaged shingles and replace them with new shingles.
A more severe puncture will pierce one or more pieces of decking board. If this occurs, your roofer must tear down the roof covering the damaged decking. These decking boards will then be replaced with new ones and then new underlayment and shingles are applied.
Contact a roof repair service if a tree punctures your roof during a storm.
